SEAFOVVL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 33 



sailing-, and decided to pull the remaining- part of the way. At 

 flighting- time we saw the averag-e quantity of birds, principally 

 green plovers, but we did not get a shot. 



It took all our time to manage H. and M., the latter falling 

 nearly overboard twice. I kept to the side purposely, to be out 

 of danger. After this we persuaded the two to tow the boat to 

 get them out of it, and it was most amusing to watch them " reel 

 to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man." One does this at 

 best, towing in the dark on the rough wall ; so it may be imagined 

 what it was like in the present case. At length, one fell over the 

 other, and we charitably took them aboard again, considerably 

 sobered. They insisted on singing for us, and we did not object 

 to this, but rather enjoyed it. 



It was now quite dark, and so we decided on crossing Freckleton 

 Pool some distance further on, that we would lay up the boat, 

 and make for our lodgings. On passing the pool we accordingly 

 anchored, and packed all our things together preparatory to 

 landing. We had begun stripping our foot covering, &c., when 

 H. jumped into the water, and volunteered to carry us ashore. 

 Not to be outdone, M., a game 'un of 55 (I am now 59!), did the 

 same. Between the two the other three were, wonderful to relate, 

 safely landed. 



We had a long tramp over the very rough swampy ground to 

 the Guides' House, where we had the usual ham and eggs, 

 followed by a " crown bowl." We got to bed in good time, being 

 well tired. 



Early next morning M., D., and self went out with the intention 

 of shooting something or other we really did not much care what. 

 Armed with my twelve-bore, I stealthily approached, a creek, and 

 was rewarded by seeing a kingfisher dart round a bend before I 

 could get the gun up. I shot a few small birds, of which there 

 were immense flocks flying about. We made for the boat to see 

 if all was right, and discovered that one of the oars was missing. 

 It was soon found, lying near the edge of the pool, but on the 

 other side. By the help of the other oar we managed to get it. 



While replacing both oars I heard D. laughing very loudly. 

 Looking round, there was M. with the big gun in his hands, up 

 to the knees in mud, whither he had gone after some birds. As 

 there was no danger of sinking deeper we enjoyed it very much. 

 After a deal of struggling, M. got his legs out, but minus boots 

 and stockings. By placing the gun upon the ground and kneeling 

 upon it, he managed to grope them up, and carrying them 

 together in one hand they appeared to be one mass of mud. They 

 were not his own, as after getting wet the previous evening he 

 had borrowed a pair of old boots and socks from our host, and 

 they were too big for him. 



